Apparatus for use in obtaining petroleum products.



APPLICATION FILED 00T.4, 1902. RENEWED JAN.18, 1910.

Patented Mar. 8, 1910 5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

ANDREW a GRAHAM c0. PnuYo-umocmmim \VASHINGTONJJ- E I FRASCH. APPARATUSFOR USE IN OBTAINING PETROLEUM PRODUCTS.

.7 APPLIUATION FILED OCT. 4, 1902. RENEWED JAN 18, 1910. 95 1 ,729

Patented Mar. 8, 1910.

5 SHEETS-SHEET z.

H. PRASCH.

APPARATUS FOR USE IN OBTAINING PETROLEUM PRODUCTS.

APPLICATION FILED 00'1.4, 1902. RBNEWED'JAN. 18, 1910.

- Patented Mar. 8,1910.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

ANDREW 8. MAN 01 quoro-Lrruaompuska v/AMNGMM H. PRASGH. APPARATUSFOR'USE IN OBTAINING PETROLEUM PRODUCTS.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 4, 1902. RENEWED JAN. 18, 1910. 95 1 ,729Patented Mar. 8

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H. PRASGH. 1 APPARATUS FOR USE IN OBTAINING'PE'IBOLEUM PRODUCTS.APPLICATION FILED OUT. 4, 19 02. RENEWED .IAK. 1B, 1910. 95 1 ,729.

Patented Mar. 8, 1910.

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Specification of iLetters latent. Patented M 8, 1910,

App licationifiled October 4,"1902, Seria1 No; 125,967. Renewed January18,1910, Serial No. 538,731.

To all whom it may concern. Be it known that I, HERMAN FRASCl-I, a

citizen ofthe United States, residing at New 1 York, Manhattan borough,county of New York, in the State of New York,-ha ve invented certain newand useful Improvements in Apparatus for Use in Obtaining PetroleumProducts; andI do herebydeclare the followingto be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it apper tains to make and use the same.

This inventionrelates moreparticularly to apparatus for use in theobtainment of burning oil (kerosene) from crude petroleum of the natureof that obtained from the wells near the town of Beaumont, in the countyof Jefferson, and State of Texas. This petroleum and its, distillates oflike nature areherein termed Beaumont oil (or Beaumont petroleum) forconvenience of reference, such designation being intended to ineludepetroleum and petroleum dlstlllates of the same or substant1ally similarcharacter wherever found or however obtained.

On subjecting Beaumont oil to the procedure customarily used forobtaining burning oil (kerosene) from the petroleum 0t thePennsylvaniaoil fields, that is to say,

- alkali), the resulting product will be "safe,

colorless and ofa mobility to climb a lamp wick (although muchdenserthan Pennsylvania burning oil), but it will smoke when burned inordinarypetroleum (kerosene) lamps for illuminating purposes, especially if theflame be turned low. The raw distillate shows the same smoky flame. Ihave discovered that this burning oil traction of Beaumont petroleumdoes not consist Wholly of smoky hydrocarbons, but is composed also(inpart) of non-smoking hydrocarbons, and that the smoky and nonsmokinghydrocarbons which volatilize together in distillation, and whichconsequently make a smoky distillate, can, by the diflerential solventaction of an appropriate menstruum, such asmethyl alcohol or ethylalcohol, be separated from each other suflicie-ntly for the obtainmentof a non- ;smOking oil as the directresult of the op- ,eration.

The apparatus of the present invention f includes means which canadvantageouslybe jemployed in ett'ecting such separation and which intheir besttorm consist of series of -mixingvessels, pumps andsettlingand decanting vessels with appropriate pipe connections and auxiliary apliances.

The solvent action 0 ethyl alcohol isgreater' on the smoky than on thenon-smoking hydrocarbons; but it is evident that a menstruum with thereverse differential action might serve to separate the two kinds ofhydrocarbons; and it is believed that theapparatus of the presentinvention could advantageously be employed with such a menstruum, if itshould be found expedient to use it. a

In effecting the separation from each other of the hydrocarbons, thebulk at least of the menstruum will be accompanied by the oil which iscomposed of (or is richer in) the hydrocarbons soluble or more solublein said menstruum; but more or less of the menstruum is apt also to befound inthe oil which is composed of (or is richer in) insoluble or lesssoluble hydrocarbons; and ordinarily at least the menstruum would beseparated from both oils. By such separation the oils are obtained in amore nearly pure state; and the valuable menstruum is recovered.Wherever it is possible so to do, it is considerecl best to efiectsuchrecovery by the aid of distillation (evaporation and condensation); andwith methyl alcohol or ethyl alcohol or other Volatile menstruum of lowboiling point, this is possible because, as I have discovered, the smokyhydrocarbons of Beaumont petroleum (or those at least which cause themost objection) are so high in boiling point as not necessarily tovolatilize with methyl alcohol orethyl alcohol. If the oil to beoperated upon should contain hydrocarbons which would necessarilyvolatilize with the methyl alcohol or ethylalcohol, they can bedistilled oflf preliminarily, to be subjected by themselves, if need be,to a differentially solvent menstruum, in apparatus of the presentinvention, with recovery of said menstruurn in any appropriate way, orto be used without such subjection, when already sufficiently tree fromsmoky constituents. y

The apparatus of the present invention methyl alcoh 01 or includes meanswhich can advantageously be employed in recovering methyl alcohol orethyl alcohol or other low boiling menstruum from the smoky andnon-smoking oils that result from its separative action and which intheir best form consist of (1) stills wherein the menstruum is expelledfrom the oil associated with the bulk of the same at first by dry heatwithout admission of steam and afterward by the aid of free steam andfrom the other oil by the aid of free steam, and (2) rectifiers whereinthe menstruum vapors are freed from concomitant oily and aqueous vapors,together with (3) appropriate pipe connections and auXiliary appliances.

The apparatus in whole or in part, with or without modification, mightalso be found useful in relations other than the separation of smoky andnon-smoking hydrocarbons from each other; and it should be understoodthat every new part, improvement or combination to be found in thecomplete apparatus, or any portion thereof, is intended to be securedfor all the uses to which it may be adapted with or withoutmodification.

The following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing,explains what is considered the best form of the ap paratus, it beingunderstood that modifications, omissions and additions can be madeindefinitely within the limits of the inven tion so long as thesubstance of any one or more of the hereinafter written claims is taken.

Figures 1 and 2 are each a partial plan of an oil-washing apparatus orplant for the continuous subjection of the petroleum to the menstruumfor separating the smoky from the non-smoking hydrocarbons of saidpetroleum and for the continuous separa tion for re-use of the menstruumfrom the products obtained by its use, a complete plan of the apparatusbeing obtained by taking the two figures together, with omission fromone or other of the figures of those parts which appear on both; in Fig.1 certain intermediate portions are broken away in order to get thefigure on the sheet; Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the same apparatus,looking from the bottom toward the top of Fig. 2; Fig. at is a view invertical section of one of the settling and decanting vessels formingpart of said apparatus; Fig. 5 is a detail view on a larger scale of aform of valve considered more advantageous than that shown in Fig. 4:;Fig. 6 is a detail view of a valve arrangement which may be used insteadof or in addition to that of F 4 or Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a side elevation,partly in section, of the apparatus or plant of Figs. 1, 2 and 3,looking to the left from the line E E of Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 7 is adetached view in vertical section and elevation of that portion of theapparatus which is shown'at the extreme left of Fig. 7, the sectionbeing taken on line G G of Fig. 2 and looking to the left; Figs. 8 and 9are detail views of parts of rectifying columns belonging to theapparatus; Fig. 10 (Sheet 1) is a view in elevation of a device forskimming oil from the aqueous methyl alcohol of condensation; Fig. 11 isa sectional elevation on line F F of Figs. 1 and 2 looking to the left,so much of the vapor pipe 7 30 as lies to the right of said line beingshown in elevation and the skimmers for 'separating oil fro-1n theaqueous alcohol (not represented in Figs. 19) being shown in places; andFig. 12 is a detached view in elevation partly broken away of a pump formoving the methyl alcohol when it is required to be pumped.

In Figs. 3 and 5 one of the rectifying columns and its vapor pipe areshown partly broken away, in order to get the figures on theirrespective sheets.

Before describing the oil washing apparatus or plant, explanation willfirst be given of the manner of distilling Beaumont petroleum in orderto obtain that portion of its burning oil fraction which is moreespecially intended to be washed in said apparatus. Thestills andreceivers to be used in such distillation are not shown. They may be ofany known or suitable description and are not part of the apparatusconstituting the present invention.

The crude Beaumont petroleum is preferably distilled in such manner asto obtain cracked oil. This is effected, as is well known, by a slowdistillation. As a general proposition, about 30 per cent. can be runoff before cracking commences, and 52 per cent. afterward, thus makingin all about 820 barrels of first distillate from 1,000 barrels ofcrude. This first distillate is then distilled for separation of theburning oil fraction from heavier fractions, the vapors being passedthrough a rectifying column, such as the column f hereinafter described,for example. It is considered most convenient to collect any naphthawith the lighter end of the burning oil fraction, as the amount ofnaphtha should not be great. During the first part of this distillation,the distillate is conducted to the first burning oil receiver, in whichthe lighter end of the burning oil fraction collects, until thetemperature of about 350 F., more or less, is indicated at the top ofthe rectifying column. When this temperature shall be reached,practically all of the hydrocarbons will have come over which would beapt to cause trouble in the separation of methyl alcohol. This isconsidered the most advantageous menstruum to be used, and thedescription, therefore, assumes it to be employed. The amount of thislighter end of the burning oil fraction may be about 7 per cent. of thecrude oil (that is, 70 barrels of said lighter end from the 820 barrelsof cracked oil obtained from 1,000 barrels of crude). With Beaumont oil,as I have found it, this lighter end does not have to be subjected tothe hydrocarbon menstruum, but

, is obtained directly as a non-smoking oil.

It is most advantageous to employ it for admixture with the heavierportion of the burning oil as hereinafter described.

After the lighter end of the burning oil shall have been preliminarilyseparated by the distillation described, the delivery of distillate fromthe condenser is changed to the secondburning oil receiver. Thedistillation is thus continued preferably until all the burning oilfraction is off. The amount collected in the second burning oil receivermay be about 48 per cent. of the crude (that is, 480 barrels of theheavier portion of the burning oil fraction from the 820 barrels ofcracked oil, which were obtained from 1,000 barrels of crude oil). Ofcourse, these figures and other like figures are approximate anddescriptive only, not definitive of the invention. hen the burning oilfraction, or as much of it as it may be desired to collect, has comeover, the fires are put out and the residuum withdrawn from the still tobe burned as fuel or otherwise disposed of. It can be distilled forproduct heavier than burning oil, if desired.

The distillate of the second burning oil receiver, being the heavierportion of the burning oil fraction, is then subjected to the menstruum,to wit, methyl alcohol, for separating the smoky and the non-smokinghydrocarbons therein from each other.

Another mode of proceeding would be to distil the crude oil withcracking as before in order to obtain a first distillate, then tore'distil this latter for separation of the burning oil fraction fromthe heavier fractions thereof, the whole burning oil distillate (equalto 1. about 55 per cent. of the crude oil) being collected in onereceiver, and lastly to separate from this burning oil distillate thelighter end (amounting to about 7 per cent. of the crude) by a steamstill provided with a rectifying column. The residue, 48 per cent. ofthe burning oil distillate (which should be subjected to dry heat toremove any water from condensation of steam therein) issubjected to thedifferentially solvent menstruum.

The lighter end could be removed from the first distillate by steamstilling (instead of by a fire still) or from the burning oil distillateby fire still (instead of by steam stilling), a rectifying column beingpreferably used in any case, in order to keep back hydrocarbons whichmight make the lighter end too smoky to use without special treatment,and. which with ordinary distillation (without rectification) would bemore apt to be carried over.

a For subjecting the heavier portion of the burning oil fraction to thehydrocarbonseparating menstrinnn, use may be made of the oilwashingapparatus now to be described. This apparatus is shown in Figs. 1-7 andF 11. It contains a series of mixing vessels 13, and a series ofsettling and decanting vessels 14: interconnected in such a manner asthat the heavier liquid from the bottom of each settling and de cantingvessel 1% is mixed in one of the vessels 13 with the lighter liquid fromthe top of another vessel 14 (farther along in the series) and that themixture of the two liquids is delivered by a pipe 16 into a third vessel1'1: for settling and decantation. Of the pipes 15 (see Figs. 4, 7 and11) one leads from the bottom of each vessel 14; a pipe 16 connects thetop of each mixing vessel 13 with the middle of each vessel 14L; and apipe 17 leads from the top of each vessel 1a.

As shown the pipes 15 and 17 which connect with the same mixing vessel13 do not open direct-1y into the latter, but (see Figs. 2, 3, 7 and 11)into a supply chamber 18 from which the two liquids are taken throughpipe 10 by the centrifugal pump 19 and by it delivered into the propermixing vessel 13 through a pipe 20. The centrifugal pumps 19 (or otherpumps) could, of course, be variously arranged and operated; but, asshown, they are located outside of the mixing vessels 13 and are drivenby belts from pulleys 21 on the shaft 22; and the stirrers 23 (Fig. 7)in the mixing vessels 13 are driven by belts from pulleys 24. on thesame shaft. 1

On top of each centrifugal pump is shown a sleeve 2-5 having at the topa stufiing box through which the pump shaft passes. This sleevefurnishes a space into which liquid inside the pump can rise under theinfluence of gravity or other force, and is intended to be so long thatthe pressure of the column of liquid will balance pressures tending inuse to raise the liquid level therein. Thus the stufiing box is keptaway from the liquids which pass through the pump and evaporation ischecked or arrested. The pump 78 (Figs. 7 11 and 12), hereinafterreferred to, has a similarly arranged stuffing box as shown. \Vith thesame object there is shown a sleeve 26 on top of each mixing vessel 13,the stirrer shaft passing through the stufiing box at the top of thecorresponding sleeve 26, which stufiing box is at a higher level thanthe supply chamber 18.

Each of the pipes 17 is provided with an adjustable discharge section27. The adjustment might otherwise be made, but, as shown, the elbow orthe nipple between the end section 27 and the rest of the pipe 17 can beturned axially by reason of the threaded connections, so that thedischarge section 27 can be raised and lowered at will. In the wall ofeach supply chamber 18, as also in the wall of each of the chambers 35and 36, is a glass pane 9 for allowing observation of the interior.

In each settling and decanting vessel 14 is a submerged float 30 (Figs.4 and 11) carrying a valve 31 on its stem 301 at the top of vessel 14for closing the inlet to pipe 17 when the float rises and a valve 32below for closing the inlet to pipe 15 when the float falls. The floatis so adjusted that in normal working both valves are open. Should, forany reason, the lighter component in the mixture of liquids supplied bypipe 16 to any settling and decanting vessel 14 run off by the pipe 17more slowly than it is supplied by said pipe 16, the accumulation ofsaid lighter component will allow the float 30 to descend and close theinlet to pipe 15 so that more of the mixture will run 011' through thepipe 17 until the normal working is reestablished. On the other hand, ifthe heavier component accumulates in any settling and decanting vessel14, the float rises and closes the inlet of the pipe 17 so that more ofthe mixture will run off by the pipe 15 until the equilibrium shall beestablished. The mixture of liquids is supplied by pipe 16 to an annularchamber 160, the inner wall of which is perforated with numerous smallholes and serves to distribute the liquids uniformly around the interiorof the vessel 14.

In Fig. 5 the valve 2 is placed between the outlets 3 and the middle ofthe vessel so that the current does not tend to close the same. The bodyof the valve has holes 4 so that the liquid may pass into and out of thespace between the valve 2 and the cap 5. At 6 are weights by which theproper depression of the float 30 may be secured. This float could haveother proper shape, instead of the double conical form shown.

In Fig. 6 the end of the pipe 15 is provided with a simple gate valve155 having a stem which passes through a stufling box on the cover ofthe supply chamber 18. By adjusting the position of this valve theoutflow by the pipe 15 can be controlled; while the raising and loweringof the end 27 controls the outflow by the pipe 17.

The operation of washing the before mentioned distillate from the secondburning oil receiver with, say, methyl alcohol, which is a menstruumlighter than the oil to be washed, is as follows: The said oil entersthe apparatus by the pipe 33 at one end of the same, namely, at thelower righthand corner of Fig. 2 as shown; while the methyl alcoholenters by the pipe 34 at the other end of the apparatus, namely, at theupper right hand corner of Fig. 2. It would be diflicult, if notimpossible, to trace the travel of the two liquids simultaneously; andit seems best first to follow the course of the oil. The pipe 33discharges the oil into the supply chamber 18 which is the first in theseries as regards the oil and is shown next to the chamber 35. From thischamber 18 the oil is drawn through pipe 10 into the first centrifugalpump 19, which discharges it through pipe 20 into the bottom (Figs. 7and 11) of the first mixing vessel 13; whence it passes by pipe 16(Figs. 3, 4 and 7) to the middle of the first settling and decantingvessel 14. From the bottom of this vessel it passes by the correspondingpipe 15 (Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 6) into the second supply chamber 18. Thenceit passes through second pipe 10, second centrifugal pump 19, secondpump 20, second mixing vessel 13, second pipe 16, second decanting andsettling vessel 14, and second pipe 15 into the third supply chamber 18.From this third supply chamber 18 it passes by way of the thirdcentrifugal pump 19, third mixing vessel 13, and third decanting andsettling vessel 14 to the fourth supply chamber 18; and so it passesalong from each supply chamber 18 to the next in order, traversing inits passage the centrifugal pump, the mixing vessel, and the decantingand settling vessel corresponding with each supply chamber; until fromthe last decanting and settling vessel 14 (at the upper right handcorner of Fig. 2) it enters the chamber 36 through the last pipe 15, andis discharged from chamber 36 by the pipe 65. The methyl alcohol frompipe 34 enters what is the last of the supply chambers 18, as viewed inreference to the course of the oil, namely, the supply chamber 18 nextto chamber 36 at the upper right hand corner of Fig. 2. It passes thenceby pipe 10 to the centrifugal pump 19 traversed last in order by theoil. This centrifugal pump delivers the methyl alcohol through the pipe20 into the corresponding mixing vessel 13; from which it is dischargedthrough pipe 16 into the last of the settling and decanting vessels 14.From the top of this vessel the methyl alcohol passes by pipe 17 intothe next supply chamber 18 to the left. From this chamber it passes bypipe 10 to the corresponding centrifugal pump 19, thence by pipe 20 tothe corresponding mixing vessel 13, thence by pipe 16 to thecorresponding decanting and settling vessel 14, and thence by pipe 17from the top of this vessel 14 to the supply chamber 18 next farther tothe left. In like manner the methyl alcohol passes from each supplychamber 18 to that which next precedes it in the course of'the oiltraversing in its passage the centrifugal pump, the mixing vessel andthe settling and decanting vessel corresponding with each supplychamber; until from the first decanting and setthrough the pipe 17 andis thence discharged by pipe 54. It will thus be seen that from eachsupply chamber 18 oil and methyl alcohol pass together through each pipe10, each centrifugal pump 19, each outlet pipe 20,

each mixing vessel 13, and its discharge pipe 16 to the middle of thecorresponding decanting and settling vessel 14; but in each decantingand settling vessel the courses of the oil and the methyl alcoholdiverge. The oil sinks and passes from the bottom of the vessel 14 (Fig.4) by pipe 15 to the next succeeding supply chamber 18; while the methylalcohol rises and passes from the top of the vessel 14 (Fig. 4) by pipe17 to the supply chamber 18 next preceding in the course of theoil. Theoil, having been delivered by the pipe 33 into the first supply chamber18, meets therein the alcohol which is delivered into the same supplychamber by. pipe 17 from the second in the series of settling anddecanting vessels 14. This methyl alcohol is highly charged withhydrocarbons which it has dissolved on its way to said first supplychamber 18 from its first introduction by the pipe 34. This highlycharged methyl alcohol and the newly introduced oil are taken by thefirst of the series 7 of centrifugal pumps 19 and-delivered by the pipe20 into the first of the series of mixing vessels13.

The methyl alcohol and oil are mixed in the centrifugal pump and againin the mixing vessel 13, the thorough mixture of the two liquids givingthe methyl alcohol a better opportunity to dissolve smoky hydrocarbonsout of the oil. Its capacity for this being not quite saturated, itexchanges some of its non-smoking hydrocarbons for a por tion of thesmoky hydrocarbons of the newly introduced oil, and the alcohol becomesmore highly charged than when it escaped from the second of the seriesof settlin and decanting vessels 14. The mixture of the so-chargedalcohol and the once washed oil is discharged from the first vessel 13by the pipe 20 into the middle of the first settling and decantingvessel 14, when, under the action of gravity, a separation into twolayers takes place. The alcohol with its dissolved hydrocarbons beingthe lighter rises to the top of the vessel and passes by pipe 17 to thechamber 35, while the heavier oncewashed oil settles to the bottom andis carried by the pipe 15 to the second of the supply chambers 18. Inthis chamber 18 the once washed oil meets the two are delivered by thepipe 20 to the second settling and decanting. vessel 14, whereseparation by gravity takes place, the charged alcohol passing by pipe17 to the first supply chamber 18, as above mentioned, and the twicewashed oil by pipe 15 to the third supply chamber 18. In this thirdsupply chamber the twice washed oilmeets the charged alcohol from thefourth vessel 14; and from it the said oil and alcohol pass to the thirdmixing vessel 13, where the oil is subjected a third time to the solventaction of the alcohol and deprived of a third portion of its smokyhydrocarbons, the separa tion of the thrice washed oil from the alcoholbeing effected in the third vessel 14. Thus the oil continues its flowfrom supply chamber 18 through pump 19 and mixing vessel 13 to settlingand decanting vessel 14, meeting. in the successive supply chambersalcohol less and less highly charged with smoky hydrocarbons until inthe last supply chamber 18 it meets the fresh alcohol from pipe 34 and,after being washed with it, passes to the chamber 36. The methyl alcoholalso dissolves more or lessof the nonsmoking hydrocarbons, especiallywhen it is first applied to the oil; but these are largely exchanged forsmoky hydrocarbons in the subsequent mixings and settlings. The methylalcohol should be nearly anhydrous and of a density equal to or lighterthan 44 B., and may have a' boiling point between 146 F. and 150 13 Bythis systematic washing of the oil, introduced by pipe 33 (andconsisting of the heavier portion of the burning oil fraction ofBeaumont or analogous petroleum) with the methyl alcohol, introduced bythe pipe 34, two products are obtained, each composed of an oil andmethyl alcohol. The oils *are of two kinds, namely, an oil suflicientlyfree from smoky hydrocarbons to be burned in the common flat flamepetroleum (kerosene) lamps, and an oil con taining a proportion of saidsmoky hydrocarbons materially greater than existed in the unwashed oil.The composition of these two oils will depend somewhat (1) upon'theparticular points at which the cuts were.

made in separating the oil subjected to the washing operation; (2) uponthe quality of the methyl alcohol employed, and (3) upon the ratio ofthe amount of methyl alcohol employed to the amount of oil washed therewith. The longer the distillation is continued and the distillatecollected in the second burning oil receiver, the heavier, of course,will be the oil in said receiver; and, as already explained, thepoint'at which such collection is stopped can be varied at the will ofthe operator. Practically crude wood alcohol, or the 97 per cent. methylalcohol of commerce, can be used eifectively as the hydrocarbonseparating menstruum when dehydrated by distilling and rectifying incolumn g 1" 8 (Figs. 7, 9 and 11) hereinafter described.

(hat is considered the best ratio of oil to alcohol in washing is aboutsix volumes of nearly anhydrous methyl alcohol introduced at 34 to onevolume of oil introduced at 33. The general principle recommended to befollowed is to use as little methyl alcohol as will yield a satisfactorynon-smoking oil. If more methyl alcohol should be used, there would bean unnecessary amount of the non-smoking hydrocarbons carried into thesmoky oil (of chamber 35); but, of course, the invention would still beemployed, the only difference being in the comparative profit of theemployment. If too little methyl alcohol should be used, the burning oilproduct (of chamber 36) canbe further washed or subjected to anytreatment which would yield non-smoking oil. For washing the oilcomposed of the &8 per cent. cut, after removal of a 7 per cent. cut oflighter burning oil, as above described (which 48 per cent. cut isbelieved to be as advantageous as any, if not the most advantageous),the ratio of six volumes of nearly anhydrous methyl alcohol to onevolume of said oil is considered as useful as any, if not the mostuseful ratio for making the usual grade of burning oil (kerosene). Goodresults have been obtained by so distilling the Beaumont crude oil as toobtain 82 per cent. of cracked oil distillate, then in redistilling thiscracked oil-collecting separately (1) a first burning oil out equal to 7per cent. of the crude and (2) a second burning oil out equal to 35 percent. of the crude, and then washing this second cut with four times itsvolumeof nearly anhydrous methyl alcohol; but the yield of nonsmokingburning oil was less than in making a second burning oil cut equal to 48per cent. of the crude and washing with six times the volume of methylalcohol and the oil itself was but little, if any, better.

By the washing with methyl alcohol a useful separation of the smoky fromthe non-smoking hydrocarbons is effected; but both of the so obtainedoils are mixed with methyl alcohol, which it is desirable to separateand recover as closely as possible for reuse, for one reason becausewithout a large recovery, the cost of the methyl alcohol might (and atpresent prices would) be larger than the value of the products obtained;and the more methyl alcohol recovered, other things being equal, themore economical the working.

The methyl-alcohol-separating apparatus consists, first, of a series oftwo stills c d (Figs. 1, 7 and 11) with a rectifying column f,dephlegmator 746 and condenser 9 common to the two stills, forrecovering the bulk of the methyl alcohol from the smoky oil (of chamber35) with which the methyl alcohol has charged itself in the washingoperation; second, of a series of two stills e and 7a with condenser at(common to both) for recovering the rest of the methyl alco- 73 hol fromthe smoky oil; third, of a series of two stills 71) Z with condense-r j(common to both) for recovering the methyl alcohol from the non-smokingoil (of chamber 36), and, fourth, of a series of two stills n p withcolumn 9 r s and condenser zfor redistilling the distillates from thecondensers m j of stills c h is Z. As shown, the condenser m serves forboth the still 2 and the still In; as does the condenser j for the twostills h Z, but other arrangements of condensing means could be adopted.It is considered simpler to use one condenser when no separation ofdistillate is desired. The distillate from all four stills consists ofaqueous methyl alcohol with whatever hydrocarbons may have passed overtherewith; but the hydrocarbons from stills e is would be of the smokykind; and those from stills 71. Z would be of the non-smoking kind. Itis preferred to recover the two kinds of hydrocarbons separately, ashereinafter explained; and, in order to enable this to be accomplished,separate condensers m and j, respectively, are shown; but it is notconsidered desirable to condense the vapors from still 6 separately fromthose of still 7:, or the vapors from still it separately from those ofstill Z; in view of the factthat only the same kinds of vapors pass overfrom the still is as from the still 0 and from the still l' as from thestill iv.

The aqueous methyl alcohol condensed from the vapors of all four stillsis further distilled in the lower part 9 of column 9 7" 8 and in stillsn p. The feathered arrows show the direction of the streams of vapor(methyl alcohol vapor, oil vapor or steam) I the unfeathered arrows thedirections of the streams of liquid (methyl alcohol, oil or water).

The stills 0 (Z e have each a tight steam belt or steam coil. As shown(see Figs. 7 and 11) there is a steam belt consisting of a drum 5() withtubes 51 open at both ends and extending through the heads of the drum,in which the tubes are secured so that the liquid in distillation cancirculate through the tubes. The steam is admitted into the drum aroundthe tubes by the pipe 1 52; and the water of condensation is withdrawnby the pipe 53. The steam inlet and water of condensation outlet aremarked 52 and 53 for all the stills 0 (Z 5. Exhaust steam is preferablyused in the stills c and (Z and live steam in the still The stills c dare heated solely by dry heat; but the still 6 has also a steampipe'501, which delivers free steam into the lower part of still 6. Themethyl alcohol and the oil, which it has dis- 139 i oil and unvaporizedmethyl alcohol pass by pipe 55 from still to still (Z, where the Imethyl alcohol is further vaporized by ex haust steam in the heatingbelt of the still. The oil and the remaining methyl alcohol then pass bypipe 56 to the still a, where the rest of the methyl alcohol, excepttraces, is removed by live steam in the heating belt aided by the freesteam from the pipe 501, which free steam prevents any water fromsettling at the bottom of still 6. The smoky oil, still holding tracesof methyl alcohol, passes by the pipe 57 to the still is. This stillconsists of a long tube is inclosed for the greater part of its lengthby a jacketing tube 58, which is closed at the ends and provided with asteam inlet 59 at one end on top and an exhaust 60 at the opposite endunderneath. The'tube 7c is provided at its oil outlet end with a steaminlet pipe 61 and at its oil inlet end with a vapor escape pipe 62. iThe pipe 61 conducts free steam (it may be exhaust steam or live steam,saturated or more or less superheated steam, but most advantageously drylive steam at, say, about sixty. to eighty pounds pressure, more orless) into the tube is which is partly filled with oil; and this steamescapes through the vapor pipe 62 withthe vapors of methyl alcohol whichit has aided in liberating from the smoky oil in said tube Z". The oilpasses to and thIOIIgl'I a cooler, consist-ing, as shown, of a pipe 63(Fig. 3) immersed in waterin thebox 64, and thence to a storage tank,not shown. It can then be used for any desired purpose, as fuel, forexample; or material for making or enriching illuminating gas, orotherwise. It can also be run again through the washing apparatus and anon-smoking or a less smoky oil obtained therefrom.

The still it isheated mainly by dry heat, preferably by a close steambelt 51, Fig. 7, supplied with live steam by pipe 52, the water ofcondensation escaping by pipe 53. It also has a small steam pipe 502 bywhich freesteam is introduced near the bottom to prevent water settling.The non-smoking oil passes from the chamber 86 by the pipe 65 into thestill h; and having in this latter been deprived of its methyl alcohol(except traces) by the vaporization which is caused by the heat of thelive steam in the heating belt and by the free steam from pipe 502,

a the said oil passes by the pipe 66 to the still Z for recovering theremaining traces of the methyl alcohol therefrom. This still as shown isa duplicate of the still and consists of a long tube Z with steam inletpipe 67 and vapor outlet pipe 68 and a jacketing tube 69 with steaminlet 70 and condensed water outlet 71. The non-smoking oil partly fillsthe tube Z and the steam from the inlet 67 passes over it to escape withthe methyl alcohol vapors by the pipe 68. The oil passes through acooling pipe 72 (Figs. 2 and 3) to a storage tank. The nonsmoking oil isthen mixed with the lighter burning oil hydrocarbons before referred to,and the mixture is treated with sulfuric acid (followed by washing withwater and then with solution of alkali) after the manner well understoodby those skilled in the manufacture of burning oil from petroleum (orthe oils are treated separately and then mixed), a refined burning oil(kerosene) being thus obtained which can be burned in lamps, includingthe common flat flame petroleum (kerosene) lamps. If such burning oilshould not be of the desired fire test, it can be brought to test bysteaming the same, as well understood by those skilled in the art. Thesmoky oil is used for fuel, or is used for making or enrichingilluminating gas or is used as may be desired.

The vapors of methyl alcohol from the still d pass into the rectifyingcolumn f by the vapor pipe 73; and those from the still 0 ascend intosaid column. This column has a perforated partition 74, it may be of anydesired form, and is provided with a filling 740 (Figs. 8 and 11) of(most advantageously) broken granite of from an inch to three inchesdiameter. As shown in Figs. 8 and 11, there is a disk 74 of wire clothresting upon a perforated plate 743 which in turn rests upon I beams 744supported at the ends by the ring 745 fastened to the walls of thecolumn. As the vapors of methyl alcohol rise through the column f, theymeet a descending volume of liquid which is constantly losing byevaporation and replenishing by condensation, so that oil which may havebeen carried with the methyl alcohol vapors finds its way back to thestill (1, while the methyl alcohol vapors 11.0 pass to the dephlegmator746, wherein they are further separated from oil vapors before they passby pipe 742 to the condenser g. The dephlegmator 746 consists of anumber of upright vapor tubes 747, set between 11 heads 748 andsurrounded by water introduced by the pipe 749 and escaping by the pipe750. The water supply to the dephlegmator may be regulated so as to havea temperature of about F. more or less at the 120 outlet 750.

In the condenser g the methyl alcohol vapors are condensed; and thecondensed methyl alcohol passes by the pipe 75 to the methyl alcoholstorage tanks 76 or" (proper cocks being closed) by the pipe 75, by-pass77 and pipe 34 to the last supply chamber 18 hereinbefore referred to.From the storage tanks 76 it can be delivered by the pump 78 throughpipe 34 to said supply chamber.

The samepun1p78 will-serve tor exhausting the contents of vessels 13 and14 through pipe 780 (Fig. 7) and for delivering the same through pipe'79 (Figs. 2 and 3) into the still .0 (the valve in pipe 3% being closedand that in pipe? 9 being opened for this purpose). 'Between thecondenser g and the pipe 75 is a box 80 with glass sides and movableslide so that the flow of the liquid can be observed and a test sampletaken, if desired.

The methyl alcohol vapors and steam from the still e pass by the pipe730 to the condenser m by which they are reduced to the liquid state.The methyl alcohol vapors and steam from still in pass by pipe 62 intopipe 730 and then to condenser m. From the condenser m the dilute methylalcohol passes through box 84 and pipe 85 to the distilling andrectifying column 9 1" s.

The mixture of steam and methyl alcohol vapors from the still 71 isdelivered by the pipe 81 into the condenser j which receives also thesteam and methyl alcohol vapors delivered fromthe' still. I into pipe 81by the pipe 68. From condenser the liquid of condensation flows into box82 and thence by pipe 83 into the column Q 1* 8.

Between each of the boxes 82 and 84 and the column 9 r s it is desirableto employ a continuous settling and decanting apparatus in order toremove from the dilute methyl alcohol any oil which may accompany thesame. Such an apparatus is shown separately in Fig. 10 (Sheet 1). Theliquid from the box fills the inverted siphon 901; any oil in suspensionrises and overflows by the pipe 902 or 906, while the dilute methylalcohol flows over the top of the adjustable pipe section 903 and isintroduced by the pipe 83 or 85 into the column Q 1 s.

The oil may be conducted by pipe 902 or 906 to the inlet end of one ofthe stills 7: Z.

The oil from condenser m would be led to the still and that fromcondenser to the still Z.

In Fig. 11 a continuous settling and de canting apparatus is shown incombination with each of the boxes 82 and 84. The oily part of theliquid from box 82 is carried away by the pipe 902 (to be furtherdistilled in still Z for recovery of any methyl alcohol present therein)while the aqueous methyl alcohol passes by the pipe 83 into the column g'1 s. The, oily part of the liquid from box 8 1 is carried away by thepipe 906 (to be further distilled in still in), while the aqueous methylalcohol is discharged by the pipe 85 into the column q r 8. Eachsettling and decanting apparatus has a draw-off 905 through which itandthe corresponding box and condenser can be emptied.

The column 91' 8 (Figs. 7 and 11) has at its bottom a perforatedpartition shown (see F ga a kof. iredQth 5Q sti g on a grating 852,upheld by the annular ledges 854, and is provided with a filling ofgravel 853 which will pass through a sieve of wire cloth with threemeshes to two linear inches and not through one with two meshes to thelinear inch. It surmounts the still it which is a plain box providedwith a. close steam coil 86. Its lower section 9 serves as a distillingcolumn as well as a rectifier.

The section r serves for rectification in con-- shown it consists of awater box 87 inclosing' a number of vertical pipes 88, open at both endsand secured at the bottom in the sheet which closes the top of column 7'and at the top in the manifold 89 from which the vapor pipe 90 leads tocondenser t, (Fig. l).

The box 87 has a water inlet 91 and overflow 92 which may be soregulated that the water in the box has a temperature of about 120 Fmore or less, at the overflow.

The still '7) consists of-a long tube inclosed in a larger jacketingtube 93, which has a steam inlet 94 on top at one end and a water ofcondensation outlet 95'underneath at the other end. The still or tube 79is connected by liquid pipe 96 with the bottom of the still it and bythe vapor pipe 97 with the top of said still it or base of column 9 7's. The liquid outlet 98 of the still 7) is shown as leading to a barrel99, which may have a sewer connection. This liquid will be mainly water;it may contain a little oil; and this can be recovered by settling anddecantation, if desired; but under proper working it ought not'to besufficient in quantity to be worth the trouble of recovering."

The liquids from condensers m and y pass through boxes 82 and 84 andpipes 83 and 85 to the upper part of column section 9, which theydescend, flowing over the gravel 853' (Fig. 9) therein and meetingrepeatedly the vapors of methyl alcohol and of water as they risethrough the column. The result of their repeated meetings is that themethyl alcohol is gradually evaporated and the water vapor condensed, sothat a liquid much poorer in methyl alcohol enters the still n. Here afurther quantity may be evaporated by the heat of coil 86 (or the heatof coil 86 may be dispensed with when not necessary) and the poor liquidthen flows by pipe 96 to the still 79 where the last traces of alcoholare removed, leaving the e idue to be. .c du tedpfiby the .p pe 9 ems(lensations which occur in the column section q, column section 1" anddephlegmator s.

The vapors of methyl alcohol andof water which leaveuthe top of column grise through the column 1 wherein they are subjected to rectification(that is to say, to r peated partial condensations with intermediatere-evaporations) by contactot the con *stantly descending liquid withthe rising vapors, so that the methyl alcohol has been almost deprivedof water when it enters the dephlegmator .9. Here the vapors aresubjected to the cool-iiig influence of the water in the box 87 andWater vapor is al'mostcompletely removed from the methyl alcohol vapors,which pass by the pipe 90' to the condenser t, where they are reduced tothe liquid state. The so obtained liquid methyl alcohol is delivered tothe box 100, from which the pipe 101 carries it into the pipe 7 5 and sorestores it to the general circulation of the apparatus.

In order to obtain nearly anhydrous methyl alcohol in the firstinstance, the crude wood alcohol, or the commercial methyl alcohol of 97per cent, can be vaporized by dry heat (steamin close coils or other) ina still and the vapors passed through column sections 9 1" andthedephlegmator s to a con denser. The operation can best be performedintermittently, the still being'filled and heatedto drive off the vaporsand then emptied of the residual liquid, preparatory to filling anew. v

By (1) distilling crude Beaumont oil, with cracking so as to obtainafirst distillate amounting to 82 per cent. of the crude oil; (2)redistilling with rectification the so obtained oil until the distillatein the first burning oil receiver (or first cut burning oil distillate)amounts to]. 7 per cent. of the crude oil; (3) continuing thedistillation of the cracked oil, and collecting the distillate(secondcut burning oil distillate) in the second burning oil receiveruntil it amounts to 48per cent. of the crude oil; (4:) passing the soobtained second cut burning oil distillate in one direction through theseries of mixing vessels 18 and settling and decanting vessels 1% andsix volumes of nearly anhydrous methyl alcohol in the opposite directionthrough the saidseries simultaneously; (5)

' taking the methyl alcohol from chamber 35,

together with the hydrocarbons which it shall have taken to itself inpassing through said series of vessels 13 and 1a, and distillingthe saidmethyl alcohol from the oil in stills a (Z, with rectification ofthevapors in the column f; (6) running the residual oil from still gZthrough the stills e and lasso as to drive off the last ttac'es ofmethyl alcohol steam (7 takingthe oil from chamber 36, together with themethyl alcohol which has been carried with the oil in its passage throi'gh the series ofvessels 13 and 14, instead of traveling with the bulk ofthe inethyl allc'ohol to chamber 35, and distilling the methyl alcoholfrom said oil iif stills it and Z; (8) redistilling in column sectionand stills a 7) the liquids from condensing the vapors from stills e hand l and con sistilfg nifaiiil'y of (mate methyl alcohol, With a littleoil, and rectifying the vapors in' the column sections 9 and 1 withfinal en pulsion of water in the dephlegniator s, the following-fourfinal products are obtained, namely: First. As the result of operations(1) and (2) an oil equal to ahout 7 per cent, moreor less, or the crudeoil sufliciently free from" smoky hydrocarbons for admixture with theheavier less volatile non-s'mol ing oil, mentioned below, for burningoil (kerosene). Second. As a result of operation (6) and precedingoperations, a highly carbonaceous oil amounting to about per cent, moreor less, of the crude oil having a viscosity not more than about 25* percent. gi eatei" than that: of water ahd' a ratio of carbon and h drogenin composition of about seven parts by weight ofth e former to one partof the latter, distilling within the temperature limits of burning oil(kerosene) yielding on the test distillation hereinbefore explained testportions which are denser by not less than ten nor more than twentydegress Baumthan the. portions from Pennsylvania burning oil in thesanie temperature intervals, and exlubiting the characteristics of anoil obtained by solution in a differentially solyent menstrniim such asmethyl alcohol or ethyl alcohol. Third. As the result of operations (1")to (4), both inclusive, in connection with operation (7), a non-smoking.oil amount ing to about 24% per cent., more or less, of the crude oil,having a sufficient mobility to be utilized for burning oil (kero sene),distilling within the temperature limits of burning oil (kerosene),yielding on the test distillation hereinbefore explalned test portionshaving densities respectively greater than those of the portions fromPennsylvania burning oil for the same temnon-smoking oil from (7) asabove, a fifth product is obtained, namely, a non-smoking oil equal toabout 31% per cent, more or less, of the crude oil, having a mobilitysuificient to be utilized for burning oil (kerosene),

distilling Within the temperature limits of burning oil (kerosene)yielding on the test distillation hereinbefore explained test sampleshaving densities respectively greater than those of the portions fromPennsylvania burning oil in the same temperature intervals, and beingfurther characterized by the portions distilling over below 400 F.containing on the average if not in every instance a larger percentageof hydrocarbons which are attacked readily by fuming sulfuric acid, thanthose distilling over therefrom between 400 F and 550 F. The so-obtainedoil also exhibits (in its portions distilling over between 400 F. and550 F. for example) the characteristics of an oil which has beensubjected to a differentially solvent menstruum, such as methyl alcoholor ethyl alcohol.

The same products will be obtained by (1) distilling the crude oil withcracking, (2) redistilling this first distillate without rectificationto obtain burning oil distillate containing both the more volatile andthe less volatile portions, (3) distilling off the more volatileportions with rectification thereof, leaving the less volatile portionsof the said burning oil distillate as a residue to be subjected to thedifferentially solvent menstruum, and (4 et seq.) proceeding afterwardas above stated.

Other modes of proceeding within the invention can also be resorted to.

To finish the nonsmoking oil for sale or use, it is treated withsulfuric acid and washed with water and then with solution of alkali,or, in other words, it is subjected to the well known sulfuric acidtreatment. The so-refined oil will have the properties just recited asbelonging to the non-smoking oil before it was subjected to treatment.The highly carbonaceous oil could be subjected also to the sulfuric acidtreatment; but it will serve as a fuel or gas oil as well without.

To prevent loss of methyl alcohol by escape of the vapors thereof fromthe different portions of the apparatus, ventilating pipes leading to acoke tower can be provided as indicated on Fig. 11 for the supplychambers 18 at the left of the figure. In such tower the methyl alcoholwould be absorbed in water, in order to be recovered therefrom bydistillation.

I claim as my invention or discovery:

1. An apparatus composed of a series of stationary mixing vessels withstirrers therein, a series of settling and decanting vessels, pipeconnections between the mixing vessels and the middle portions ofcorresponding settling and decanting vessels, andpipe connectionsleading from the ends of the several settling and decanting vessels topreceding and to following mixing vessels, respectively, substantiallyas described.

2. An apparatus composed of a series of mixing vessels, a series ofsettling and decanting vessels, pipe connections between the mixingvessels and the middle portions of corresponding settling and decantingvessels, and pipe connections leading from the ends of the severalsettling and decanting vessels to preceding and to following mixing vessels, respectively, the last mentioned pipe connections including supplychambers into each of which open pipes leading, respectively, from thetop of one and the bottom of another settling and decanting vessel,substantially as described.

3. An apparatus composed of a series of mixing vessels, a series ofsettling and decanting vessels, pipe connections between the mixingvessels and the middle portions of corresponding settling and decantingvessels, and pipe connections leading from the ends of the severalsettling and decanting vessels to preceding and to following mixingvessels, respectively, the last mentioned pipe connections includingsupply chambers into each of which open pipes leading, respectively,from the top of one and the bottom of another settling and decantingvessel, and adjustable discharge ends on one set of the last mentionedpipes, substantially as described.

l. An apparatus colnposedof a series of mixing vessels, a series ofsettling and decanting vessels, pipe connections between themixingvessels and the middle vportions of corresponding settling anddecanting vessels, and pipe connections leading from the ends of theseveral settling and decanting vessels to preceding and to followingmixing vessels, respectively, and including supply chambers into each ofwhich open pipes leading, respectively, from the top of one and thebottom of another settling and decanting vessel, and pumps for forcingthe liquids through said vessels and pipe connections, substantially asdescribed.

5. The combination with a mixing vessel, a settling and decantingvessel, and a pipe connection between them, of a pump having itsstufiing box at the end of a sleeve of such height that the column ofliquid therein balances the pressure tending to raise the liquid level,substantially as described.

6. The combination with a settling and decanting vessel, and a pump, ofa mixing vessel having a sleeve of such height that the column of liquidtherein balances the pressure tending to raise the liquid level and astirrer whose shaft passes through the stufling box at the top of saidsleeve, and pipe connections between said vessels and pump,substantially as described.

7. The combination with a pump, of a mixing vessel having a sleeve ofsuch height "mixing vessels, a series of settling and dethat the columnof liquid therein balances the pressure tending tcjraise the liquidlevel and a stirrer whose shaft passes through the stufling box at thetop of said sleeve, and a pipe connection between the pump and mixingvessel, substantially as described.

, 8. The combination with an elevated supply chamber, ofa mixing vesselhaving a sleeve extending above the said chamber and provided at the topwith a stuffing box for the stirrer shaft of said vessel, ,and a pipeconnection between the said chamber and the said vessel, substantiallyas described.

9. In apparatus having a moving ,part in a chamber which is connectedwith means whereby its liquid contents is put under pressure, andincombination with such anoving part, and chamber, a sleeve of suchheight that the liquid column therein bala-nces the pressure in saidchamber, and a stufling box at the top of said sleeve for the passage ofthe device to operate said moving part, substantially as described.

10. An apparatus composed of a series of canting vessels, pipeconnections between the mixing vesselsand the middle portionsofcorresponding settlingand decanting vessels, and pipe connectionsleading from the ends of the several settling and decanting vessels topreceding and tofollowing mixing vessels, respectively, in combinationwith .a still,

'afcondenser, and pipe connections between,

respectively, the still i and condenser, the still and one of theoutlets of said apparatus, and

i the condenser and one :of the inlets of said apparatus, substantiallyas described.

11. The combination of a mixing vessel, a

settling and decanting vessel, a pipe connection between the formervessel and the middle portion of the latter, two stills, condensingmeans, and pipe connections between, respectively, the two stillsandthecondensing means, one still and one end of said settling and decantingvessel, the other still and the other end of said settling and decantingvessel, and the condensing :means and the mixing vessel, lthislastconnection serving to deliver the distillate from both stills tosaid mixing vessel, substantially as described.

12. An apparatus composed of a series of mixing vessels, :a series ofsettling and decanting vessels, pipe connections between the mixingvessels and the middle portions of corresponding settling and decantingvessels, and pipe lconnectionsleading from the ends of the severalsettling and decanting vessels to preceding and to following mixingvessels, respectively, in combination with two stills, condensing means,and pipe connections between, respectively, the two stills and thecondensing means, one still and one of the outlets of said apparatus,the other still and the other outlet-of said apparatus, and

ing to deliver the distillate from both stills to said inlet,substantially as described.

13. The combination with a settling and decanting vessel, of a still runwholly by dry heat, a still run by free steam, and pipe connectionsbetween, respectively, one end of said vessel and the liquid inlet ofthe first mentioned still, and the liquid outlet of the first mentionedstill and the liquid inlet of the other, substantially as described.

14. The combination with a settling and decanting vessel, of .a stillrun wholly by dry heat, a still run by free steam, a rectifier, and pipeconnections between, respectively, one end of said vessel and the firstmentioned still, the liquid outlet of the lat ter and the liquid inletof the free steam still, and the vapor outlet of the last mentionedstill and the rectifier, substantially as described.

15. The combination with a mixing vessel, a settling and decantingvessel, and a pipe connection between the former vessel and the middleportion of the latter, of a still run wholly by dry heat, a still run byfree steam, a rectifying column, condensing means, and pipe connectionsbetween, respectively, one end of said settling and decanting vessel andthe first mentioned still,

the latter and the free steam still, the last mentioned still and therectifier, the first mentioned still and the condensing means,therectifier and the condensing means, and the condensing means and themixing vessel, this last connection serving to deliver the distillatefrom both stills to said mixing vessel, substantially as described.

' 16. The combination with a settling and decanting vessel, of twostills whereof one at least is run wholly by dry heat, two stills run byfree steam, and pipe connections between, respectively, one end of saidvessel .and one of said first mentioned stills, the

other end of said vessel and the other of said first mentioned stills,one of the first mentioned stills and a free steam still, and the otherof the first mentioned stills and the other free steam still,substantially as described.

17. The combination with a settling and decanting vessel, of two stillswhereof one at least is run wholly by dry heat, two stills run by freesteam, rectifying means, and pipe connections between, respectively, oneend of said vessel and one of said first men tioned stills, the otherend of said vessel and the other of said first mentioned stills, one ofthe first mentioned stills and a free steam still, the other of thefirst mentioned stills and the other free steam still, and between thefree steam stills sand the rectifying means, substantially as described.

18. The combination with a mixing vesof said first mentioned stills, theother end of said settling and decanting Vessel and the other of saidfirst mentioned stills, one of the first mentioned stills and a freesteam still, the other first mentioned still and the other free steamstill, the free steam stills and the rectifying means, a dry steam stilland the condensing means, the rectifying means and the condensing means,and the latter and the mixing vessel, substantially as described.

19. An apparatus composed of a series of mixing vessels, a series ofsettling and decanting vessels, pipe connections between the mixingvessels and the middle portions of corresponding settling and decantingvessels, and pipe connections leading from the ends of the severalsettling and decanting vessels to preceding and to following mixingvessels, respectively, in combination with a still run wholly by dryheat, a still run by free steam, and pipe connections be tween,respectively, one of the outlets of said apparatus and the dry heatstill, and the liquid outlet of the latter and the liquid inlet of thefree steam still, substantially as described.

20. An apparatus composed of a series of mixing vessels, a series ofsettling and decanting vessels, pipe connect-ions between the mixingvessels and the middle portions of corresponding settling and'decantingvessels, and pipe connections leading from the ends of the severalsettling and "decanting vessels to preceding and to following mixingvessels, respectively, in combination'with a still run wholly by dryheat, a still run by free steam, rectifying means, condensing means, andpipe connections between, respectively, one of the outlets of saidapparatus and the dry heat still, the liquid outlet of the dry heatstill and the liquid inletof the free steam still, the free steam stilland the rectifying means, the dry heat still and the condensing means,and the rectifying and the condensing means, the connection of the drysteam still with the condensing means being independent of therectifying means connected with the free steam still, substantially asdescribed. 7 I

21. The combination of a still run wholly by dry heat, a still run byfree steam, rectifying means, condensing means, and pipeconnections'between', respectively, the liquid outlet of the dry heatstill and the liquid inlet of the free steam still, the free steamstilland the rectifying means, the dry heat ing with two stills whereofone at least is run still and the condensing means, and the rectifyingand the condensing means, the connection of the dry steam still with thecondensing means being independent of the rectifying means connectedwith the free steam still, substantially as described.

22. An apparatus composed of a series of mixing vessels, a series ofsettling and decanting vessels, pipe connections between the mixingvessels and the middle portions of corresponding settling and decantingvessels, and pipe connections leading from the ends of the severalsettling and decanting vessels to preceding and to following mixingvessels, respectively, in combination with a still run wholly by dryheat, a still run by free steam, rectifying means, condensing means, andpipe connections between, respectively, one of the outlets of saidapparatus and the dry heat still, the liquid outlet of the dry heatstill and the liquid inlet of the free steam still,'the free steam stilland the rectifying means, the dry heat still and the condensing means,the rectifying and the condensing means, and the condensing means andone of the inlets to said canting vessels, pipe connections between 5the mixing vessels and the middle portions of corresponding settling anddecanting vessels, and pipe connections leading from the ends of theseveral settling and decanting mixvessels to preceding and to followinvessels, respectively, in combination wholly by dry heat, two stills runby free steam, and pipe connections between, respectively, one outlet ofsaid apparatus and one of said first mentioned stills, the other outletof said apparatus and the other first -mixing vessels, a series ofsettling and decanting vessels, pipe connections between the mixingvessels and the-middle portions of corresponding settling and decantingvessels, and pipe connections leading from the ends of the severalsettling and decanting vessels to preceding and to following mixingvessels, respectively, in combination with two stills whereof one atleast is run wholly by dry heat, two stills run by free steam, acondenser, and pipe connections between, respectively, one outlet ofsaid apparatus and one of said first mentioned stills, the other outletof said apparatus and the other first mentioned still, the liquid outletof one of said first mentioned stills and the liquid inoutlet of a dryheat still and the condenser,

and the condenser and one of the inlets of 1 said apparatus,substantially as described.

25. An apparatus composed of a series of mixing vessels, a series ofsettling and decanting vessels, pipe connections between the mixingvessels and the middle portions of corresponding settling and decantingvessels, and pipe connectlons leading from the H ends of the severalsettling and decanting vessels to preceding and to following mixingvessels, respectively, in combination with two stills'whereof one is runwholly by dry heat, two stills run by free steam, rectifying means,condensing means, and pipe connections between, respectively, one outletof said apparatus and one of said first mentioned stills, :the otheroutlet of said apparatus and the other first mentioned still, the liquidoutlet of one of th first mentioned stills and the liquid inlet of afree steam still, the liquid outlet of the other first mention still andthe liquid inlet of the other free steam still, the vapor outlet ,ofoneof the first mentioned stills and the condensing means, the vapor outletof the other first mentioned still and the rectifying means, the vaporoutlets of the two steam stills and the rectifying means, the rectifyingmeans and the condensingmeans, and the condensing. means and .an inletof said apparatus, substantially as. described.

26. The combination with a settlin and decanting vessel, of a still runwhol y by dry heat, a still run by free steam, a rectifying columncontaining solid material in small pieces, and pipe connections between,respectively, one end of said vessel and the dry heat still, 1theliquidoutlet of said dry heat still and the liquid inlet of the free steamstill, and the vapor outlet of the free steam still and the rectifyingcolumn, substantially as described.

27. The combination with a settling and decanting vessel, of a still runwholly by dry heat, a still run by free steam, 1a rectifylng columncontamlng solld material 1n fine pieces and provided with a waterjacketed dephlegmator, andxpipeconnections between, respectively, oneend of said vessel and the i dry heat still, the liquid outlet of saiddry heat still and the liquid inlet of the free steam still, and thevapor outlet of the free steam still and therectilying column,substantially as described.

28. The combination with a settlin and decanting vessel, (of a still runwhol y b.

dry heat, a still run by free steam, a rectlfying column containingsolid material in fine pieces, a condenser, and pipe connectionsbetween, respectively, one end of said vessel and' 'the dry heat still,the liquid outlet of said dry heat still and the liquid inlet of thefree steam still, and the vapor outlet of the free Steam still and therectifying column by way of said condenser, the condenser outletcommunicat ng with said c l mn at its midheight, substantially asdescribed.

29. An apparatus composed of a series of mixing vessels, a series ofsettling and decanting vessels, pipe connections between the mixingvessels and the middle portions of corresponding settling and decantingvessels, and pipe connections leading from the ends of the severalsettling and decanting vessels to preceding and to following mixingvessels, respectively, in combination with a still run wholly by dryheat, a still run by free steam,a rectifying column, a condenser,additional condensing means, and pipe connections between, respectively,one of the outlets of said apparatus and said dry heat still, the vaporoutlet of the dry heat still and the additional condensing means, theliquid outlet of the dry heat still and the liquid inlet of the freesteam. still, :the vapor outlet of the free steam still and thecondenser, the condenser and the midheight .of said column, the vaporoutlet of said column and the additional condensing means, and the saidadditional condensing means and an inlet of said apparatus,substantially .as described.

30. The combination with a mixing vessel, of a settling and decantingvessel, a pine connection between the former vessel and the middle ofthelatter, a valved pipeiconnection leading from each end of said.decanting and settling vessel, and a submerged float in the lastmentioned vessel connected with both the top valve and the bottomvalveand operating to close one outlet when it opens the other rising orfalling, substantially as described.

31. A settling and decanting vessel having an inlet at the middle and avalvedioutlet at each end of said vessel and also having therein asubmerged float connected with both the top valve and the bottom valveand operating :to close one outlet when it opens the other in rising orfalling, substantially as described.

32. A settling and decanting vessel, provided with a submerged floatvalve therein, for controlling the outflow therefrom, in combinationwith two supply chambers, and pipe connections between, respectively,,one end of said vessel and one supply chamber, and the other end ofsaid vessel and the other supply chamber, one .of said pipe connectionshaving an adjustable dischargegend, substantially as described.

33. The combination of amixing vessel, a settling and decanting vessel,a pipe GQEIIQC. tion between the former vessel and the middle portion ofthe latter, two supply ,.cha1nbers, and pipe connections between,respectively, one end of said vessel and one supply chamber and theother end of said vessel and the other supply chamber, substantially asdescribed.

34. The combination of a mixing vessel, a settling and decanting vessel,a pipe connection between the former vessel and the middle'portion ofthe latter, two supply chambers, and pipe connections between,respectively, one end of said vessel and one supply chamber and theother end of said vessel and the other supply chamber, one of said pipeconnections having an adjustable discharge end, substantially asdescribed.

35. The combination of a mixing vessel, a settling and decanting vessel,a pipe connection between the former vessel and the middle portion ofthe latter, a submerged float valve in said settling and decantingvessel for controlling the outflow therefrom, two supply chambers, andpipe connections between, respectively, one end of said vessel and onesupply chamber and the other end of said vessel and the other supplychamber, substantially as described.

36. The combination of a mixing vessel, a settling and decanting vessel,a pipe connection between the former vessel and the middle portion ofthe latter, a submerged float valve in said settling and decantingvessel for controlling the outflow therefrom, two supply chambers, andpipe connections between, respectively, one end of said vessel and onesupply chamber, and the other end of said vessel and the other supplychamber, one of said pipe connections having an adjustable dischargeend, substantially as described.

37. An apparatus composed of a series of mixing vessels, a series ofsettling and decanting vessels, pipe connections between the mixingvessels and the middle portions of corresponding settling and decantingvessels, submerged float valves in said settling and decanting vesselsfor controlling the outflow therefrom, and pipe connections leading fromthe ends of the several settling and decanting vessels to preceding andto following mixing vessels, respectively, the last mentioned pipeconnections including supply chambers into each of which open pipesleading, respectively from the top of one and the bottom of anothersettling and decanting vessel, substantially as described.

38. An apparatus composed of a series of mixing vessels, a series ofsettling and de canting vessels, pipe connections between the mixingvessels and the middle portions of corresponding settling and decantingvessels, submerged float valves in said settling and decanting vesselsfor controlling the outflow therefrom, and pipe connections leading fromthe ends of the several settling and decanting vessels to preceding andto following mixing vessels, respectively, the

last mentioned pipe connections including supply chambers into each ofwhich open pipes leading, respectively, from the top of one and thebottom of another settling and decanting vessel, and adjustabledischarge ends on one set of the last mentioned pipes, substantially asdescribed.

39. An apparatus composed of a series of supply chambers, a series ofmixing vessels having sleeves with stufling boxes thereon above the saidchambers around the devices for operating the stirrers in said vessels,a series of settling and decanting vessels, means for controlling theoutflow therefrom, a series of pumps having sleeves with stufling boxesthereon above said supply chambers around the devices for operating thepumps, and pipe connections between said chambers, vessels and pumpsprovided with adjustable discharge ends in said chambers and so arrangedthat liquids from each supply chamber are mixed in a mixing vessel, aredelivered into the middle portion of a settling and decanting vessel,and pass from said vessel by the top and bottom thereof, respectively,to other supply chambers, substantially as described.

40. An apparatus composed of a'series of supply chambers, a series ofsettling and decanting vessels, and pipe connections between saidchambers and the said vessels so arranged that liquids from oppositeends of two of said vessels meet in one of said chambers and aredelivered to the middle portion of a third of said vessels,substantially as described.

ll. An apparatus composed of a series of supply chambers, a series ofsettling and decanting vessels, and pipe connections between saidchambers and the said vessels so arranged that liquids from oppositeends of two of said vessels meet in one of said chambers and aredelivered to the middle portion of a third of said vessels, incombination with pumps in said pipe connections, substantially asdescribed.

4E2. An apparatus composed of a series of supply chambers, a series ofsettling and decanting vessels, and pipe connections between saidchambers and the said vessels so 115 arranged that liquids from oppositeends of two of said vessels meet in one of said chambers and aredelivered to the middle portion of a third of said vessels, incombination with pumps and additional mixing vessels 120 in said pipeconnections, substantially as described. 43. An apparatus composed ofa-series of supply chambers, a series of settling and decanting vessels,and pipe connections be- 5 tween said chambers and the said vessels soarranged that liquids from opposite ends of two of said vessels meet inone of said chambers and are delivered to the middle portion of a thirdof said vessels, said pipe connec- 0 tions being provided with means tovary the relative outflow from the ends of the several vessels,substantially as described.

M. An apparatus composed of a series of supply chambers, a series ofsettling and de canting vessels, and pipe connections be tween saidchambers and the said vessels so arranged that liquids from oppositeends. of two of said vessels meet in one of said chambers and aredelivered to the middle portion of athird of said vessels, said pipeconnections being provided with adjustable discharge ends and valves toregulate the outflow from said vessels, substantially as described.

45. .An apparatus composed of a series of supply chambers, a series ofsettling and de canting vessels. and pipe connections between saidchambers and the said vessels so arran ed that liquids from oppositeends of two of said vessels meet in one of said chambers and aredelivered to the middle portion of a third of said vessels, incombination with a still, a pipe connection between one of said vessels.and said still, a rectifying sels, means for controlling the outflowfrom said vessels, a series of pumps having sleeves with stufling boxesthereon above the level of said supply chambers around the devices foroperating the pumps, and pipe connections between said chambers, vesselsand pumps provided with adjustable discharge ends in said chambers andso arranged that liquids from each supply chamber are mixed in a mixingvessel, and delivered into the middle portion of a settling anddecanting vessel, and pass from said vessel by the top and bottomthereof, respectively, to other supply chambers, in combination with twostills whereof one at least is run wholly by dry heat, two stills run byfree steam, a rectifying column containing solid material in fine piecesand provided at the top with a water jacketed dephlegmator, condensingmeans, and pipe connections between, respectively, one outlet of said aparatus and one of said first mentioned stil s, the other outlet of saidapparatus and the other of said first mentioned stills, the liquidoutlet of one of said first mentioned stills and the liquid inlet of afree steam still, the liquid outlet of the other first mentioned stilland the liquid inlet of the other free steam still, part of the saidcondensing means and an inlet of said apparatus, the vapor outlet of oneof said first mentioned stills and so connected condensing means, thevapor outlet of said dephlegmator and so connected condensing means,another part of said condensing means and a liquid inlet at themidheight of said rectifying column, the vapor outlet of the other firstmentioned still and condensing means having the last mentionedconnection, and the vapor outlets of the two free steam stills andsimilarly connected condensing means, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in presence of two Witnesses.

HERMAN FRASCH.

lVitnesses:

F. W. LOTHMAN, J. G. UPDEGROVE.

